Every year, the first week of March is always exciting because the Sanibel Shell Festival comes to town. This 2016 year was a trifect-shell-a for me.
1. – The show was fantastic.
Fun to see Carol Strange sharpie these beautiful shells.
Kelle Covington’s shell encrusted ukulele.
Marti Gorun’s gorgeous seashell mirror.
2. – Fun to hang out with shell friends and everybody at the show was exceptionally happy and chatty.
I had such a great time hanging out with Rachel (we learned so much from her last year about Natural Pearls) and Brian.
We are such a colorful group! The girls just gotta have fun in psycheshellic colors with Kelle (she made the awesome Ukulele) and Shelley from Naples. Thanks for sending this photo Kelle :)
Bill Jordan is a hoot! He’s also an amazing artist with his SAILORS VALENTINE and pocket watch valentine.
Speaking of SAILORS VALENTINES… David Rhyne won Peoples Choice Award in the artistic division of the show.
You have to see the close up of this one because of the detail of the basket weave. The basket and the circle weave are made of SEA URCHIN SPINES.
Another amazing VALENTINE by Judy Dinnick.
This one by Gerda Reid.
Oooh shell la… so many stunning pieces!
And then we come to #3 of the trifectshella – The shelling was awesome!
Rachel found a JUNONIA on the east end of Sanibel about a mile from the Sanibel Lighthouse and her Aunt Margie found an amazing SCOTCH BONNET in about the same area.
Not bad I’d say for a couple of days of beach combing.
I’ve run out of room on this post and lots of cool shells to show you.. and more cool shell people. So stay tuned for more photos of the scientific division of the Sanibel Shell Festival.
The intricate detailed work of the valentines is truly spectacular! What talented artisans! Just outstanding!
Thank you Pam for sharing these gorgeous works of art! Can not imagine the time that went into each of these pieces.
Wow… the beauty is just overwhelming!
Thanks Pam.
Love that scotch bonnet too!
Moved back north but love your posts about shelling, miss the shelling not the heat!
Unique Valentine creations each worthy of grand accolades! These artisans are
truly gifted. Would love to attend next year’s Shell Festival, Pam, so please keep us
posted of the date. Thanks!
I’ve found some lovely small shells on Jamaica beaches, and have never had trouble bringing them home, but have read some blogs where people say it is illegal to remove them. Do you know the truth regarding this? Thanks so much…off for another vacation soon.
There are two different sets to laws to consider: the laws of the country you are visiting, and the laws of the USA, to which you are returning.
Collecting some small empty seashells when you are in a different country is usually not a problem (at least in most countries), as long as you did not pick up the shells in a marine preserve. While you are on vacation, call and ask the local Agriculture & Fisheries Department what the rules are. They will be happy to tell you.
When you are leaving a country where removing shells IS against the law, officials may quite likely confiscate the shells at the airport when you are departing. But you may also get away with it.
One species there are strict rules about is the Queen Conch. You are not allowed to export it or import it without a license, as it is on the CITES list (an international treaty to protect wildlife against over-exploitation.) Same thing is true of soft corals and hard corals. Like the queen conch, their export and import into the US is banned. If US customs/ agriculture dept., finds them in your luggage, they will be confiscated and you will be told off, but not arrested.
I always declare my seashells when I bring them into the USA from another country, and I specifically say that I have no CITES species.
I have never had a problem.
Thank you so much. We travel frequently to Jamaica, and I have brought home shells without a problem, but wondered if I might be unknowingly breaking a law. Thanks.
Marianne, the shell show is the first Thursday, Friday and Saturday of March each year. Every year I think they can’t possibly top the year before but it always exceeds my expectations. I am home after a month on Sanibel — missing my beach walks already. The shelling was fantastic this year 😎
The details in The valentines are amazing
I don’t know how they pick the winners! They are all so incredible and beautiful. Thank you for inspiring us all!
So disappointed we couldn’t get to the show this year, thank you for sharing these pictures Pam. Love the angel wing lotus. Is that a new Sailors Valentine book you are holding? The colors on Margie’s scotch bonnet are fantastic!
Yes! It’s a new book- I might have a surprise post soon about that book ;)
I love your angel wings flower. Being they are so fragile, do you put some kind of hardener on them? Do you put them inside some kind of glass case? Half the time by the time I get them home, I’ve broken them
I’m not sure if my last comment went through. On your angel wings flower do you apply some kind of hardener so they don’t break? Do you put them inside some kind of glass case? Great job on it.
Hi Leslie- I didn’t make the angel wing flower- it was displayed at the shell fair. But I’m sure they were just natural.